Karima Brown and Vukani Mde
19 October 2005
Johannesburg — The Free State African National Congress (ANC) yesterday fired Mangaung (Bloemfontein) mayor Papi Mokoena, in what political analysts say is part of President Thabo Mbeki's drive to clean up local government ahead of local polls next year.
The Scorpions arrested Mokoena, his wife Granny, city manager Mojalefa Matlole, chief operating officer Mzwandile Silwana, speaker Zongezile Zumane and Mokoena's political adviser Jacob Thithi in July, following investigations into tender irregularities amounting to R150m.
Mokoena's axing came two days after Mbeki told a local government imbizo that government would rather destabilise municipalities by getting rid of corrupt officials than allow them to remain in office.
The latest purge at municipal level also came on the day Transparency International commended Mbeki for firing his former deputy Jacob Zuma, calling the action "brave".
Transparency International chairperson Peter Eigen said Mbeki's axing of Zuma was an encouraging sign of SA's anticorruption stance. "It must have been a painful decision. In many places in the world people would shy away from such decisions."
The Free State is engulfed by violent protest against corrupt officials who are seen by communities as hindering service delivery. "The latest action came after the ANC learned that the mayor had returned to work, in defiance of an instruction to take voluntary leave until his case was concluded," said ANC provincial spokesman Qondile Khedana.
Analyst Susan Booysen said Mokoena's firing indicated Mbeki was responding swiftly to calls by local residents to remove under-performing or corrupt officials.
"Mbeki has struck a chord with people in communities who are demanding action against officials standing in the way of delivery. He has now given these people a firm answer," she said.
But Mbeki's fight against corruption has divided the ruling party. Detractors claim his stance lacks even-handedness, and is a cover to get rid of opponents.
Booysen said anticorruption efforts needed to be seen to be above the ANC's factional fights.
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